When searching for the right dental treatment for you, a major part of the process is asking questions. It’s important to find out if a treatment option is right for your particular situation, what it involves, what the side effects are, and how your personal dental and medical history may affect the outcome.
One that has consistently achieved positive results is the All-on-4® treatment concept. All-on-4® is a form of reconstructive dental treatment that provides a new set of teeth that look, feel and function like a natural set. But if you haven’t yet explored the treatment concept deeply or had a personal consultation, the difference between this and other treatment options, such as dentures, may not be obvious. You may wonder: “if All-on-4® are artificial teeth, are they removable? Do they last forever? How will the implants fit into my gum, and does food get stuck under the All-on-4® dental implants?”
All-on-4® is also designed to improve your overall oral and physical health. This includes allowing you to eat and drink whatever you like whenever you want. The idea of food particles getting lodged and trapped beneath artificial teeth is troubling. That’s why we’ve decided to explain exactly what All-on-4® is, how you can eat once your new teeth have been implanted and how to keep them clean.
Many people are familiar with dentures, often called “false teeth”, and dental implants, which replace missing teeth using titanium posts and artificial crowns. These treatments, along with dental bridges, are all effective options for replacing missing teeth.
So, what makes All-on-4® different?
All-on-4® is a full-arch tooth replacement solution that uses just four dental implants to support a complete set of fixed teeth on each jaw. Two implants are placed at the front and two at the back, creating a secure, long-lasting smile. While some people may still be unfamiliar with the treatment, All-on-4® has been used successfully for many years and has a clinically proven 98% success rate.
People who currently wear dentures often ask whether food can get stuck under All-on-4® teeth like it can with traditional dentures.
The key difference is that All-on-4® is a fixed solution, designed to feel more stable and natural than removable dentures. The treatment was pioneered by Dr Paulo Malo in 1998, and many Next Smile clinicians have been personally trained in his approach. Today, it remains one of the most trusted and effective full-arch treatment options available.
Instead of placing one implant for every missing tooth, All-on-4® uses just four implants to support a full set of fixed teeth. This approach can often avoid the need for bone grafting, helping reduce treatment time, shorten healing and minimise discomfort compared to some other treatment options.
At Next Smile, we follow the Malo Protocol, developed by Dr Paulo Malo. During the first stage of treatment, patients receive a temporary set of teeth known as a provisional bridge. In many cases, this is fitted on the same day as surgery or within 24 hours.
Patients typically wear their provisional bridge for three to six months while the implants heal and fuse with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. During this time, many people are already enjoying the benefits of All-on-4® — smiling confidently and returning to many of the foods and activities they may have avoided before treatment.
Once healing is complete, the final bridge is fitted. This long-term set of teeth is designed for durability, comfort and function.
The All-on-4® process offers several benefits, including avoiding bone grafting in many cases, reducing recovery time and providing patients with a new smile sooner.
But what about eating after treatment? Can food still get stuck under All-on-4® teeth during the provisional or final stages?
Unlike removable dentures, All-on-4® teeth are fixed securely in place, allowing you to eat with far more confidence and comfort. After the initial healing period, most patients can return to enjoying many of the foods they previously avoided — although it’s still important to follow your clinician’s dietary advice immediately after surgery.
So, can food get stuck under All-on-4® teeth?
A small amount of food may occasionally collect underneath the bridge, as the teeth sit slightly above the gum line to allow for cleaning and hygiene maintenance. However, this is usually minimal and far less noticeable than with traditional dentures.
At Next Smile, each All-on-4® bridge is custom-designed using advanced digital technology to achieve a precise fit. While the bridge is made to sit closely against the gums, maintaining a small hygienic space underneath is an important part of the design.
Although All-on-4® teeth cannot develop decay like natural teeth, good oral hygiene is still essential. Regular cleaning at home and ongoing dental hygiene appointments help keep the implants, bridge and surrounding gums healthy long term.
Caring for your All-on-4® teeth is an important part of maintaining your new smile. After surgery, your clinician will provide detailed after-care instructions, This usually includes avoiding rinsing, brushing or disturbing the surgical area for the first 24 hours.
For the following two weeks, patients are typically advised to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and clean gently around the teeth and gums. Once healing has progressed, you can move to a regular oral hygiene routine similar to caring for natural teeth — including brushing twice daily, flossing or using interdental cleaning tools, and using an antibacterial mouthwash as recommended by your clinician.
Regular dental hygiene appointments are also important to help keep your implants, bridge and gums healthy long term.
If you’re ready to improve your smile, All-on-4® may be the treatment for you. Patients suitable include those who have lost multiple teeth due to illness, genetic conditions, tooth decay or injury and those who aren’t suitable for other teeth restoration methods.
Our team members are guided by values like empathy, transparency, dedication and excellence, and we bring these qualities to every stage of your treatment journey.
Our clinics are industry-leading clinics designed to provide our patients with the highest levels of care in a hygienic, medically regulated setting. Our clinics are not only staffed by Malo-trained professionals such as surgeons, but they’re also equipped with advanced dental technology and all the facilities necessary to make All-on-4® teeth in-house. These include dental laboratories, state-of-the-art surgical rooms, X-rays and CBCT scans. We’ll keep all of your appointments under one roof. And if you live a long way from a major city, our accredited partners provide the same standard of ongoing care and maintenance closer to home.
If you’d like to find out more about the All-on-4® treatment and our All-on-4® Super Clinics, contact Next Smile.
With 7 Super Clinics across Australia and a network of accredited regional partners, reliable dental implant care is always within reach. From your first consultation to lifelong aftercare, our coordinated network delivers complete implant solutions – all under one roof.